Immunization Specialist, NO-C, Jakarta, Indonesia (Temporary Appointment)

Under the supervision of the Health Specialist, the incumbent will support the development, planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation and administration of the Immunization programme within Child Survival and Development Unit, and to achieve the goals of UNICEF’s Country Programme. The Immunization Specialist will support the Health Specialist to implement the workplan of the EPI unit and achieve results in ongoing projects and initiatives, as well as sharing the role of health emergency focal point in CSD section. He/she will contribute to liaising with UNICEF Field Offices (FO) and immunization stakeholders. This role requires periodic visits to FOs and field implementation sites, and participation in joint missions and meetings as needed.

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For 70 years, UNICEF has been working on the ground in 190 countries and territories to promote children's survival, protection and development. The world's largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments.

Title: Immunization Specialist
Level: NO-C (National Professional Category)
Type of Contract: Temporary Appointment
Duty Station: Jakarta
Duration: 364 days

Purpose of the Position

National immunization programme in Indonesia has high commitment from the government and reached around 80% routine immunization coverage in the past decade with basic antigens. The country also achieved the goal of Maternal and Neonatal Tetanus Elimination (MNTE) and maintained polio-free status. However, immunization coverage is still below the global target of 90% and administrative data shows a declining trend in 2014 and 2015. Due to low coverage and its large population, Indonesia is the 4th in the world among the top 10 countries having most un/under vaccinated infants. There are also large equity gaps among provinces and population groups, by social determinants such as wealth, urban/rural settlement, mother's education, and birth order of the child. The country continues to have measles outbreaks and deaths and to report diphtheria cases. Effective Vaccine Management Assessments (EVMA) indicate poor cold chain and vaccine management practices at sub-national levels. The programme had shown slow progress in the past in introducing new vaccines, but introduced Inactivated Polio Vaccine (IPV) in 2016, scheduled to introduce three other new vaccines in starting from 2017 (Rubella, Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) and Japanese Encephalitis (JE) and preparing to introduce Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV) from 2019.

UNICEF is one of the key stakeholders supporting the government in collaboration with other partners and donors such as WHO, Gavi and CDC, through its main office in Jakarta and health staff in Field Offices (FOs).

UNICEF's support to immunization focuses on the following areas:

• Coverage and equity: Supporting the implementation of innovative strategies to improve coverage in vulnerable areas through improved microplanning and mobile health technologies that provide reminders to parents.
• Demand generation/Communication and social mobilization: Creating awareness among communities, front-line health workers, key influencers around immunization programs and addressing issues of public trust.
• Immunization supply chain: Implementation of effective vaccine management improvement plan: capacity building of provincial/district managers and health workers, establishment of electronic temperature monitoring, cold chain equipment inventory and refurbishment plan.
• New vaccine introduction: Measles-rubella vaccination campaign, HPV, JE and PCV introductions focusing on communication, supply, cold chain and field monitoring.
• Vaccine procurement: Emerging role based on the political commitment from the government and cost-effectiveness of UNICEF supplied vaccines, procuring some vaccines on behalf of the government using Supply Division procurement services.

Under the supervision of the Health Specialist, the incumbent will support the development, planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation and administration of the Immunization programme within Child Survival and Development Unit, and to achieve the goals of UNICEF's Country Programme. The Immunization Specialist will support the Health Specialist to implement the workplan of the EPI unit and achieve results in ongoing projects and initiatives, as well as sharing the role of health emergency focal point in CSD section. He/she will contribute to liaising with UNICEF Field Offices (FO) and immunization stakeholders. This role requires periodic visits to FOs and field implementation sites, and participation in joint missions and meetings as needed.

Key Expected Results

1. Timely sectoral analysis, input, support and coordination contribute to the Situation Analysis with consistent integration of sex disaggregated data and its periodic update for effective project planning, development and management.
2. Quality contributions are made to the development and implementation of the Immunization strategies and approaches through participation and collaboration with internal and external partnership.
3. Work plan and objectives are strategically established, technical support is effectively provided, and planned results are timely delivered through exercise of strong technical leadership.
4. Project implementation progress is monitored and evaluated for adjustment, acceleration and improvement of program delivery and sustainability.
5. Technical support is provided to government and NGOs at all stages of the programme cooperation, including capacity building of government personnel and beneficiaries.
6. The capacities of Country Office staff are strengthened through effective capacity building programme in the development, implementation and management of the Immunization programme.
7. UNICEF and Government accountability is ensured for supply and non-supply assistance and disbursement of programme funds for the sector.
8. Effective partnership and collaboration achieved and maintained for advocacy, technical cooperation, programme coordination, information sharing and knowledge networking.
9. The most relevant and strategic information is provided to support the Immunization Programme by the effective implementation of integrated child survival monitoring system.
10. All required programme reports are timely prepared in compliance with the established guidelines and procedures.
11. Emergency preparedness is maintained, and in emergencies, emergency responses with effective coordination are provided.
12. Other assigned duties and responsibilities are effectively performed.

Qualifications of Successful Candidate

• Advanced degree in one of the disciplines relevant to the following areas: Medicine, Public Health, Pediatric Health, Global/International Health, Health Policy and Management, Family Health, Socio-medical Sciences, Health Education, Epidemiology, or other fields relevant to immunization.
• At least five years of professional work experience at the national level in planning, programming, implementation monitoring and evaluation of health/Immunization programmes.
• Good data analysis and interpretation skills
• Experience with training and capacity building
• Field work experience.
• Previous working experience with UN agencies is an asset.
• Background/familiarity with emergency preparedness and response is an asset.
• Fluency in spoken and written English and Bahasa Indonesia is essential

Competencies of Successful Candidate

Core Values

• Commitment
• Diversity and Inclusion
• Integrity

Core competencies

• Communication 
• Working with People 
• Drive for Results 

Functional Competencies

•  Leading & Supervising
• Formulating Strategies & Concepts
• Analyzing
• Relating & Networking
• Deciding & Initiating Action; Applying Technical Expertise

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all national, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of our organisation. This vacancy if for Indonesian national only.